3 takeaways from Wisconsin football's fifth spring practice: offensive line depth remains a question
MADISON – Based on what transpired Tuesday morning inside the McClain Center, Wisconsin offensive line coach AJ Blazek is determined to identify anyone who can play multiple positions if needed.
And considering the lack of experienced depth on the line, Blazek will need players capable of moving seamlessly from one position to another.
Right guard Joe Huber and left guard Joe Brunner were the main men on the move Tuesday.
Huber, who started all 13 games at left guard last season, got work at right tackle on the No. 1 line; at center on the No. 2 line; and at right guard on the No. 1 line.
Brunner, a reserve guard who played sparingly last season under Jack Bicknell Jr., worked at left guard and left tackle on the the No. 1 line.
When UW opened spring ball last month the No. 2 tackles were freshman Kevin Heywood on the left side behind Jack Nelson and redshirt freshman Peyton Lange on the right side behind Riley Mahlman.
“We’re just making sure that we build the depth there because we lost quite a bit,” head coach Luke Fickell said after practice.
Trey Wedig, who can play guard or tackle, transferred to Indiana. Nolan Rucci, a reserve left tackle last season, transferred to Penn State. Dylan Barrett, who can play center or guard, transferred to Iowa State. Guard Michigan Furtney exhausted his eligibility and Tanor Bortolini, who played guard, center and tackle at UW, is preparing for the 2024 NFL draft.
“We’re going to have to continue to build that (depth) back,” Fickell said.
Huber replaces Bortolini as UW’s most versatile offensive lineman.
Asked how many positions Huber could conceivably play, Fickell said: “All of them. Which is not a great thing for him, because we move him around.”
Huber, who will be a redshirt senior in the fall, started 13 games at right tackle for Cincinnati in 2022 before transferring to UW.
Brunner, a graduate of Whitefish Bay High School, is probably best suited to play inside but with no experienced reserved tackles, the staff has to be prepared for just about anything.
One player who benefited from those moves was JP Benzschawel. The redshirt junior from Grafton High School, filled in at both guard spots on the No. 1 line when Huber or Brunner manned other positions.
“We moved guys around a little bit more today,” Fickell said.
Wisconsin safety Kamoi Latu likely to be sidelined indefinitely after suffering shoulder injury
Safety Kamoi Latu was a spectator Tuesday. The reason? HIs right arm was in a sling.
Fickell said he wasn't certain what type of shoulder injury Latu suffered during practice on Saturday but added he would not need surgery.
"I don’t know how much we’ll get him back for spring ball," Fickell said. "Hopefully we get him back later. Maybe not full-contact."
With Latu out, Austin Brown moved from nickel cornerback to safety and Max Lofy took Brown’s spot at nickel corner on the top unit.
Lofy, who will be a redshirt senior, missed all of last season with an undisclosed injury. He started one game and played in 12 in 2022.
"Until this spring Max had been hurt the entire time I have been here," Fickell said. "You almost write the guy off (but) I've got to give him a lot of credit. He has done a really, really good job."
More: Tailback Tawee Walker's impressive spring among top takeaways from Wisconsin's fourth practice
Badgers' linebacker rotation appears to be taking shape
The coaches have raved about the potential of outside linebackers Leon Lowery Jr. and John Pius, who transferred from Syracuse and William & Mary, respectively.
Lower and Pius got extensive work together Tuesday on the No. 1 unit.
The second paring was Darryl Peterson and Aaron Witt.
UW also added three inside linebackers from the transfer portal -- Jaheim Thomas (Arkansas), Sebastian Cheeks (North Carolina) and Tackett Curtis (USC).
Returnees Jake Chaney and Christian Alliegro generally have worked together with the No. 1 unit. Thomas, who appears comfortable between the tackles or on the edge as a pass-rusher, likely will get plenty of work.
The staff on Tuesday gave redshirt freshman Tyler Jansey extended work paired with Thomas on the No. 2 unit.
More: Mike Tressel has revamped inside linebacker group to work with at Wisconsin
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Joe Huber's versatility is key for Wisconsin Badgers offensive line
